The Sonic Six has gotten a bad wrap from many sources, not entirely unearned. The main issue with the Sonic Six is the Keyboard tuning stability. The rationalization for this shortcoming is explained in the fact that the keyboard was intended to be used as a teaching device. This isn't a good enough explanation.

So, people may not want the synth because they assume it has a lousy tracking. Fact is, a S6 with adequate warm-up will have good tracking. Patrick Moraz took one on tour with Yes for the Relayer tour, so it must be a usable musical synth. But it is true that the biggest weakness of this synth is its keyboard. It takes a good warmup to allow the oscillators to settle. But this is a duo-phonic keyboard, like the ARP 2600 it plays one oscillator above and the "A" oscillator below, when switched in this mode. Otherwise it can be a dual oscillator monophonic synth.

The S6 is well-worthy of use, though. It has a simple 2 step envelope but excessive routings of the envelope. The synth can be switched to have the keyboard, or LFO X or Y to trigger it. There are extensive modulation possibilities. The LFOs can be balanced to send more or less signal from one or the other. Both LFOs can have master speed control and the Contour (Envelope) can control speed as well. In fact this synth is similar to a 2600 in that many routings can take place in various orders. There is a Ring Modulator on this synth. Both Oscillators can be directly outputted, as can the Ring Modulator, and the 2 oscillators and RM can be sent through the filter. The filter is resonant, and it can also be controlled by the LFOs. There's a noise generator and best of all there is the external input which can be fed into the Ring Modulator and be processed easily with the filter, and because you have flexible routing of the RM, you can have the RM with the external signal and Oscillators, or with X/Y LFO's. So the only difference between this and a semi-modular synth is the presence of switches to create the routings instead of patch cords. Basically what I'm saying is that this synth is an amazing processing unit. Don't rule it out because of weaknesses in the Pitch area and the simple envelope, because there are so many synths out there that have the keyboard, tuning stability, and 4 stage envelope that will never, ever approach the complexity of sounds, space age noises and FX that this wonderful synth does with ease. Please, before you write a review try one out with a cup of coffee over a few hours. You will not only get high from this synth, but you'll be sold on it.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jul-26-2008 at 23:46

Joesph Carl Berns
a professional user
from Minneapolis, MN
writes:

This is not good. I hated the feel, and the sound of it.

Rating: 2 out of 5
posted Monday-Jan-24-2005 at 15:22

Zinovieff
a part-time user
writes:

Totally freaked out synth!! I love it's modulation capabilities, Ring modulator and classic sound. Looks simple but can get you some really interesting fx sounds and yes, you can make musical tones!!! Stays in tune pretty well considering it's age. Has a nice feeling keyboard and i love those lfo's!!! Love to play it at night with a spring reverb/echo. Great synth from the early days.

Rating: 5 out of 5
posted Saturday-Jan-18-2003 at 12:08

DBOLT
a hobbyist user
from Canada
writes:

Well I cant really rewiev this synthesizer because it is the only analogue I have ever used, but i can say that tis a very interesting machine. When using this with a full band it gets frustrating to keep it in rythmn, but on its own it is beautiful. It can also drive one mad. But there is nothing severly wrong with that now is there? I suggest playing around with a sonic six on a sunday morning with a good cup of coffee and the rememberence of last nights nightmares in your head. For myself, being unexperieced, and therefor you would probably consider this useless, the sonic six is the creator, and i am but a tool to the machine. It is magnificently unpredictable. THankyou... and rememember.... sunday mornings!

Rating: 3 out of 5
posted Wednesday-May-29-2002 at 22:36

Marc Doty
a professional user
from St. Paul, MN
writes:

This synthesizer gets the worst rap because it isn't a Minimoog... but don't let that bad rap fool you. The Sonic Six is an utter delight, and is astoundingly versatile. For example, within the first minutes of working with mine, I had the dual waveform mods creating an interesting rhythm, I had the mods themselves triggering playback, I had the noise generator on, and had the filter contour set... POW, it was creating it's own drum patterns. It has a very unique sound, which should be described thusly, as opposed to "NOT A MINIMOOG." It has the biggest control panel of any synthesizer I've ever seen... it's like driving a spaceship from "Space 1999." (Roger Manning likened it to "Furniture from 2001: A Space Odyssey") If you have a chance to purchase one, do it... you won't regret it. Don't believe all the negative comments... this synth should never be compared to any other Moog, it's in a class by itself.